Biodiversity around your office/warehouse

[writecombination]

Has anyone been approached by local environmental groups about making the green space around their premises more eco-friendly?

Such as planting specific types of bushes or trees to encourage wildlife, creating habitats for endangered insects etc?

I'm researching an article on a bio-diversity initiative around public buildings and thought I'd find out whether it had arrived at commercial premises?

I'd be interested in feedback - even if it's something you won't consider in the current economic climate.

[shubh]

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. The World Resources Institute reports that there is a link between biodiversity and climate change. Rapid global warming can affect an ecosystems chances to adapt naturally. Biodiversity may be a catch-all for various aspects of conservation, but the fresh perspectives arising from recognition of "biodiversity" suggest possible unifying concepts.

[writecombination]

Okay - I'm guessing that biodiversity isn't a big deal here. That answers my question, I suppose!

[think77]

Being green needs to be something that affects a companies bottom line. Maybe it should't be that way, but realistically it is. Buying and selling large quantities of used office furniture is a realistic green goal. When furniture has reached the end of its commercial life, we arrange clients existing furniture as donations to not-for-profit projects in the community. Don't give up on green issues, just make sure they're relevant to hard nosed business people.

[Live2Learn]

Well, biodiversity is important inside an office wtih plenty of computers.

Computers dry up the moisture in the air, so having plants is very important, I'm a bit of a plant freak anyway, and I have a spider planet in my bedroom which helps keep the air conditioned.

I would also advise plants in an office with computers especially if you have asthmatics in your workforce.

Computers don't generate dust, but they certain can push it around and collect it. BIG time, especially since they're quite static inside.

There is a specific type of plant type that conditions the air in any house or office but I forget the name of it at the moment. But a spider plant is one, a Fern is another, and those plants that people put in their bathrooms sometimes to rid of steam are very good too.

I have a Lavender in my garden that I planted this summer, because I was concerned upon moving in this house that I never saw ONE Bee or Wasp, I don't like them, we all don't like them, but Wasps are our natural pest controllers and Bees produce honey and help fertilise other plants.

How's that for Green ;)

Also, a bit 'anti' green in a way, but if you put a block of Cedar wood in your wardrobe you can deter moths, but I suppose we don't want to be feeding moths our clothes :)

I think, if you're a clothes store or something a block of cedar could be useful, not that clothes stores actually get moths as far as I know :)

[RyanV49er]

Never been aproached regarding this. We've had a few companies offer to test our office for energy efficiency etc, but nothing outside of the building. I'd personally think that plants are plants, so long as you have some then you are "green"

:)

[Live2Learn]

....I'd personally think that plants are plants, so long as you have some then you are "green"

:)

That's the problem. Many people, including me, succumb to think that that is being 'green'.

Being green is like, exchanging your delivery vans for more fuel efficient vans that can equal or perform better than the current vans you have but using less fuel.
Or...
When renting servers for your internet computing, having them in a solar powered data centre rather than a big multiplex facility that has 20 tonnes of fuel power redundancy.

Or...
Changing your computer's power supply unit (PSU) from 700w down to 550w that still allows your computer to perform efficiently but saves energy use.

Just things like that.

Using biodiversity to be green is great, for both natural purposes and for office and workforce health.

Ever wondered why hospitals have so many plants? They're brilliant air condiitioners - sure they don't change the temperature from 27 down to 21, but they certainly cleanse and filter the air (in a much healthier manner than conventional manmade air conditioners).



I'm really beginning to wonder where all of this is coming from... Didn't now this was in my head... :confused:

[think77]

Never been aproached regarding this. We've had a few companies offer to test our office for energy efficiency etc, but nothing outside of the building. I'd personally think that plants are plants, so long as you have some then you are "green"

:)

I purport that whatever it is you're trying to get people to do, it has to affect their bottom line, but there is a spectrum of practicality here. Few people listen to the evangelical preachings of the recently converted, but equally it is no use making "lame" efforts than mean nothing.

Plants are great, but they always have been and "great" goes no further than having a few around the office for most people. Their oxygen producing capacity isn't going to compensate for a few days worth of lost rain forest.

Practical steps seem few and far between, not even "new presidents" seem able to offer anything profound (OK, lets face it....caring is fine so long as the right people gain and don't lose out). Recycled office desks won't compensate for the loss of a few days worth of rain forest either, but where do you start that makes a real difference? :|